Washing apparatus



H. GRUNEWALD WASHING APPARATUS Jan. 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1', ,1961

Jan. 8, 1963 H. GRUNEWALD 3,071,954

WASHING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "00 n0 OOooouaouOn on no oooaooooooc ccoooonec 9000000099 ecocoecoobg conooocooco ooooooo oc N ooocuooono &

United States Patent O,"

3,071,954 WASHING APPARATUS Heinz Grunewald, Bremen, Germany, assignor to E. F.-

Textilien- & Apparate-Bau- & Vertriebsgesellschaft, Eilers & Witt K.G., Bremen, Germany Filed May 1, 1961, Ser. No. 106,821 7 Claims. (Cl. 68-27) The invention relates to laundry washing apparatus using a row of stationary adjacent washing machines.

Various laundry washing apparatus involving the use of a row of stationary washing machines are known. For instance, in one known arrangement a number of intercommunicating Washing machines are disposed in a ring, and each such machine is connected to various supply pipes, which comprise valves, for washing water, steam and additives such as acidifying, steeping and bleaching agents and detergents. In this known apparatus, which has been found satisfactory in practice, each machine is connected, by operation of the valves, to one or more of the supply pipes in a predetermined sequence at the completion of a washing operation; the machine in which the articles being washed are given the final treatment is disconnected from the feed pipes and from the common flow pipe, emptied, reloaded and then reconnected to one end of the common flow pipe. The advantage of this prior art apparatus is that the washing additives are used very efficiently, so that very economical washing is achieved. A disadvantage, however, is that the unloading and reloading station changes after each individual washing operation, with the result that the common flow pipe has to be connected in a different way on both sides of the machine to be reloaded and many of the valves in the feed pipes to the other machines must be changed over.

To save the staff attending a number of stationary laundry washing machines from having to perform any changeover jobs and, Where conveyor belts or other devices are used at the loading and unloading stations, from having to do any loading or unloading jobs, it has already been proposed that, in a washing plant of the kind specified, the articles to be washed which have been introduced into the drum of a machine at one end of the row be transferred, after treatment for a desired time, into the drum of the next machine of the row, the finishwashed articles being ejected from the last machine. To transfer the articles from one machine to the next in this other prior art arrangement, the drums'of all the machines are stopped after the desired treatment time. The drums are then rotated backwards through part of a revolution so that some of the articles in the drum slide into the next machine through transfer ducts which are provided between adjacent machines and which extend inclinedly downwards. The main disadvantages of this latter prior art arrangement are that the cross-sections of the transfer ducts are fairly small and that the drums are of a complicated and expensive design. Furthermore a part of the interior of the drum is occupied by transfer means i and is thus not available for aiding in the washing opera tion.

In a further known multi-machine laundry washing apparatus there are provided a number of stationary washing machines, each comprising a tub and a perforated basket pivotally journalled within said tub for reciprocal movement, drive mechanism being provided for actuating all baskets simultaneously and all tubs being interconnected by fluid lines through which washing fluid moves in countercurrent to the direction of movement of the articles washed. "At each successive step of the washing operation all the baskets are bodily lifted out of their journals by means of a lifting bar mechanism and then lowered into the serially adjacent tubs, the basket removed from the serially last tub beingireturnedby, an overhead 3,071,954 Patented Jan. 8, 1963 conveyor to the serially first tub of the row. In this older arrangement heavy and complicated lifting and conveying mechanism and correspondingly large actuating forces are required to transfer the perforated and dripping baskets from one tub to the serially next tub.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fully automatic laundry washing apparatus comprising a number of stationary adjacent washingmachines in which articles to be washed which have been introduced into the machine at one end of the row are transferred, after treatment for a desired time, into the next machine of the row which is simple in construction, reliable in operation, requires comparatively small floor space, and avoidsthe aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art apparatus.

-It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel laundrywashing machine which can be utilized for automatic multi-machine washing apparatus but which can also serve as an individual domestic washing machine.

In the apparatus according to the invention the machines are stopped at the end of the required treatment time in a position in which paddling means moving the articles to be washed through the washing liquid are in substantially horizontal position, whereafter means for transferring the articles being washed are introduced into a space within the path of movement of the paddling means but not occupied by said means in said stopped position thereof, whereafter the paddling means is so turned through a fraction of a revolution that the ar: ticles to be transferred are placed on the transferring means, whereafter the articles are transferred by such means into the next machine or, if transferred from the last machine of the row, to another device and, if required, further articles to be washed are simultaneously intro; duced into the first machine of the row, whereafter the machines restart their normal washing motion.

Preferably, to ensure efiicient use of the washing addijtives the washing liquid passes, throughout the entire washing operation, in an uninterrupted stream through all the washing machines in countercurrent to the article being washed.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIGURE 1 is a partly sectioned side elevation showing a number of adjacent washing machines, including the first and last machines of the plant; I v

FIGURES 2-4 are side elevations of one washing machine showing the positions of the drum and of the article transferring means during various phases of the transfer step;

FIGURE 5 is a partly sectioned diagrammatic side elevation which is similar to FIGURE 1 and which illustrates the means for conveying the washing liquid and FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 5.

The apparatus comprises a number of washing machines which are disposed adjacent one another in a row; the number of machines can be varied to suit the quantity of articles to be washed, the soiling thereof and any other factors. For the sake of clarity only some of the machines are shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6--i.e., the first machine 10 of the row which is loaded with the dirty washing; the last machine 11 of the row from which the finish-washed and rinsed articles are removed; and three machines 12-14 whichare provided between the machine 10 and the machine 11.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, all the washing machines are identical with one another and consist of a stationary outer vessel 15 comprising a part-cylindrical base wall 16 and side walls 17. Rotatable means means, comprise two arcuate side walls 19, which are concentric of the wall 16, and two strip-like end walls which are of arcuate shape on the narrow sides. Two diametrically opposite edges of the side walls 19 are interconnected by a perforated partition 21 comprising a central hub part secured to the shaft 22.

The washing machines illustrated therefore comprise two chambers in which a specified quantity of articles, which are preferably placed in a bag, are treated. As the paddling means rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow 23, the articles are moved through the washing liquid in the vessel; the articles are lifted by one of the two partition portions on the right-hand side of the vessel as seen in the drawings, to slide down as the partition approaches the vertical position. As can be seen in the drawings, the side walls 19 have scooping pockets at their free ends.

To ensure that articles being washed do not slip between the pushing edges of the walls 19, 20 and the vessel walls 16, 17 while the articles are rolling around in the manner just described, the wall edges are specially designed; for instance, they can comprise flexible strips 24 which bear against the vessel walls.

All the paddling means can be driven by a common driving motor 24 with which the various washing machines are in driving engagement by way of a common shaft 25 and of bevel gearing 26 disposed thereon. However, other drive arrangements are possible; for instance the various machines can be directly interconnected by spur gears which are disposed on the shafts and on spindles parallel therewith and which are driven by an appropriately arranged motor. Also, the shaft 25 can be driven by a number of motors by way of belts.

As compared with the prior art washing machine arrangements in which the articles being washed are transferred from one machine to the next by inclined transfer surfaces provided at the transfer stations between adjacent vessels, pivoting transfer elements are provided in the arrangement according to the invention. In the embodiment illustrated the transfer elements take the form of box-like receptacles or scoops 27 which are open at the top and which can be pivoted around spindles 28 extending parallel with the shafts 22. The spindles 28 are disposed near that side of the vessel which is forwardmost as seen in the direction of article movement. The vessels are interconnected by linkage 29 moved by drive means (not shown) in the direction indicated by the double arrow 30.

The operation of the transfer device will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2-4. While the articles are being washed, the transfer boxes 27 are in the raised vertical position which can be seen in FIG. 1 and in which they do not impede washing. At the termination of each washing operation all the paddling means stop simultaneously in the position which can be seen in FIG. 2 and in which the articles are in the top chamber in the lower end thereof; in FIG. 2 such lower end is on the right-hand side. The boxes 27 are then lowered into the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2, whereafter the paddling means are rotated through part of one revolution into the position which can be seen in FIG. 3 and in which the articles in the top chamber of the paddling means slide into the box 27. The paddling means are then returned to the position shown in FIG. 4 and the boxes 27 are pivoted back into their normal raised position, the articles dropping from the box into the top empty chamber of the paddling means of the adjacent machine. Referring to FIG. 4, the box 27 can be seen in an intermediate position on the left and in the end position on the right. Of course, further articles can be introduced into the first machine of the series at every transfer operation. The new articles can be introduced by the box 27 which is furthest to the right in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the new articles can be placed directly in the top chamber of the paddling means of the first machine of the series. The finish-washed articles removed from the final machine of the series at each transfer operation are deposited on a table (not shown) or conveyor belt by the box 27 which is furthest to the left in FIG. 1.

The arrangement for conveying washing liquid through the washing machines is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In the washing plant according to the invention, washing liquid moves in countercurrent to the articles from the final machine 11 of the series to the first machine 10 of the series by way of all the washing machines between the machine 11 and the machine 10. Washing water for final rinsing, and an acidulating agent, are supplied to the final machine 11 through pipes 31, 32. Other additives, such as detergents, bleaches and steeping agents and heating steam, are added in other machines through pipes 33 diagrammatically shown in FIG. 5. Overflow boxes 3 which are basically similar to one another are provided between adjacent machines and comprise; an inlet pipe 36 through which washing liquid enters from the previous machine; a central adjustable overflow 37; and an outlet pipe 38 which extends to the immediately following machine. Preferably, all the boxes 34 comprise draining pipes 39 which are fitted with valves and which,- if required, can be connected to pipes 40 extending to the sewerage system. In one particular overflow box, 35, which is placed downstream of the washing machine comprising the detergent feed pipe, means are provided which are operated by the level of the foam in the box 35 and which serves to control the supply of detergent. Such means comprise: a light source 41 on one side of the box; and a photoelectric cell 42 which is disposed on the opposite side of the box and which is irradiated by the light source. If the evolution of foam increases in the box 35 to such an extent as to interrupt the light beam impinging upon the cell 42, the same initiates a constricting movement of the valve which controls the supply of detergent. Tubes 36, 38 for washing liquid inflow and outflow are preferably connected to opposite sides of each machine so that the overflow boxes between the machines are disposed alternately on opposite sides of the ma chines forming the series, so that washing liquid entering a washing machine cannot pass directly to the outlet thereof. For the sake of simplicity in the drawings the places where the pipes 36, 38 are connected to the 'machine are shown as being at the same height but they can be at different heights from one another.

The multi-machine washing apparatus described oper ates as follows:

The operator or, and preferably, an automatic conveyor, the movement of which is co-ordinated with the stepwise advance of the articles being washed, loads such articles into the first machine 10 of the series either by way of a box 27 or directly into the top of the machine 18. The articles pass through the remaining machines of the series and are given a dilferent treatment in each machine in the manner conventional in countercurrent washing plant. The article, after final rinsing in the final machine 11 of the series, is transferred to another conveyor (not shown) or can be introduced directly by the transferring device into a. spin dryer.

Of course, the novel apparatus can be operated fully automatically without any staff.

The apparatus described with reference to the drawings is just one embodiment of the invention and can be varied in many ways. For instance, the washing machines, instead of being placed in a single row, can be placed in a number of rows, the articles moving in opposite directions, while the transferring device between the last machine of the first row and the first machine of the second row is so designed that the articles being washed are moved laterally after they have been lifted out of the final machine of the first row.

Instead of weir-like overflow devices, simple connecting pipes can be used with or without the through-flow and with or without the valve arrangements for controlling the level of the washing liquid. Such connecting pipes can comprise recessed parts which act as dirt interceptors and which, just like the overflow boxes illustrated, comprise draining pipes 39 for the removal, when necessary, of accumulated dirt.

The apparatus according to the invention is also of use for washing machines, the paddling or agitating means of which are reciprocated.

The term drum washing machine herein used applies to any washing machine in which an agitating means is mounted for rotation or reciprocation in an outer vessel said agitating means being so arranged within said outer vessel that it is directly engaging and positively moving the articles during the washing process.

The term article herein used applies both to individual pieces of laundry and to batch laundry.

I claim:

1. A laundry washing apparatus including a plurality of stationary washing machines arranged in a row adjacent one another in which articles to be laundered are introduced to one of the machines at one end of the row and are transferred at predetermined periods from one machine to another in succession after treatment for a predetermined time, each washing machine comprising a staionary outer vessel for receiving the washing liquid, pivotally mounted laundry moving means within said vessel, the laundry moving means of all of the machines being actuated in unison for subjecting the articles to agitation in the washing liquid in said vessels, each of said laundry moving means comprising a paddling member extending substantially radially from its pivot axis and actuated so as to be arrested in a predetermined position during the transfer period, and movably mounted transfer means adjacent the upper portions of said vessels and located between adjacent machines which are actu ated in unison during the transfer period to lift articles being laundered out of the machine and to transfer them to serially adjacent machines, said transfer means being located to be lowered into the path of the paddling means of one of said two adjacent machines to an article receiving position and after being loaded can be shifted to transfer the articles to a subsequent machine.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said transfer means comprises scoops swingingly mounted about the axis parallel to the axis of said paddling means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said paddling means are provided with apertures to permit the flow of washing liquid from one side of said means to the other.

4. A laundry washing apparatus including a plurality of stationary washing machines in which articles to be laundered are introduced into one of the machines at a time and at one end of a row of said machines and transferred at predetermined periods after being treated for a predetermined time and then discharged into an adjacent machine of the row, each washing machine in said row comprising a stationary outer vessel to contain a washing liquid, a pivotally mounted laundry moving means within each of said outer vessels, the laundry moving means in each of said machines comprising a paddling member, all of said paddling members being operable in unison to subject the articles being laundered to agitation in the washing liquid, said paddling members extending substantially radially from their pivot axes toward a partial cylindrical wall provided in the lower part of their respective outer vessel and being disposed concentrically to said axis, said paddling members being operable to stop in predetermined positions during the transfer period, and movably mounted transfer means actuatable in unison during the transfer periods to lift articles out of the machine and to transfer them to serially adjacent machines, each of said transfer means being disposed near contiguous parts of two adjacent machines in such a manner that it can, when said paddling means are at rest be lowered into the path of movement of the paddling means of one of said two adjacent machines to an article 6 receiving position and can, after being loaded with the articles to be transferred by movement of said paddling means be lifted out of said machine to such an extent that articles can be transferred to the other one of said machines.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 characterized in that said transfer means comprises scoops swingably mounted about an axis parallel to the axis of said paddling members.

6. A laundry washing apparatus with a plurality of stationary adjacent washing machines in which articles to be laundered are introduced into a machine at one end of the row and are then transferred after treatment for a desired time period into the next machine of the row, each washing machine comprising a stationary outer vessel adapted to contain a washing liquid, 9. pivotally 1 mounted laundry moving member in each of said vessels, the laundry moving members of all machines being operable in unison to subject the laundry articles to agitation in the washing liquid, each of said laundry moving members being in the form of a paddling means extending substantially radially from its pivot axis toward a partial cylindrical wall provided in the lower part of said outer vessel and disposed concentrically to said axis, said paddling means being operable to stop in predetermined positions during transfer periods, movably mounted laundry transfer means disposed near contiguous parts of two adjacent machines to lift articles out of the machines and to transfer them to serially adjacent machines when said paddling means are at rest and permit them to be lowered into the path of movement of the paddling means of one of said two adjacent machines to an article receiving position and can, after being loaded with the to be transfer-red articles by movement of said paddling means he lifted out of said machine to such an extent that articles can be transferred to the other one of said machines, the vessels of all machines being connected by conduits with the machine at one end of the row in which the articles to be washed are introduced being provided with a drain so that the washing liquid can pass in an uninterrupted stream through all the washing machines in a direction counter to the direction in which the articles are transferred throughout said row.

7. A laundry washing apparatus including a plurality of stationary washing machines arranged adjacent one to another and in a line to form a row in which articles of clothing and the like are introduced into one of the machines at one end of the row and are transferred sequentially at predetermined intervals int-0 the next machine of the row after being treated for a predetermined time, each washing machine comprising a stationary outer vessel adapted to contain washing liquid, a pivotally mounted laundry moving means within each of said vessels, the laundry moving means of all of the machines being actuated in unison for subjecting the laundry articles to agitation in the washing liquid, each of said laundry moving means including a paddle member extending substantially radially from its pivot axis toward a cylindrical wall portion provided in the lower part of said outer vessel and disposed concentrically to said axis, said paddle member comprising two arcuate side walls which are concentric with the cylindrical portion of the vessel, two strip-like end walls which are of arcuate shape on the narrow side and two radial walls extending from diametrically opposite points of said arcuate side walls to the axis of said paddle member, said paddle member being operable to stop in a predetermined position during laundry transfer periods, a movably mounted laundry transfer member disposed between each two adjacent machines operable in unison during the transfer periods to lift articles out of the machine and to transfer them to serially adjacent machines, said transfer members being adapted to be lowered into the path of movement of the paddle member of one of said two adjacent machines to an article receiving position and can, after being loaded with the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Miller Mar. 12, 1889 Ganeles June 18, 1946 Burling May 15, 1956 

1. A LAUNDRY WASHING APPARATUS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF STATIONARY WASHING MACHINES ARRANGED IN A ROW ADJACENT ONE ANOTHER IN WHICH ARTICLES TO BE LAUNDERED ARE INTRODUCED TO ONE OF THE MACHINES AT ONE END OF THE ROW AND ARE TRANSFERRED AT PREDETERMINED PERIODS FROM ONE MACHINE TO ANOTHER IN SUCCESSION AFTER TREATMENT FOR A PREDETERMINED TIME, EACH WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING A STATIONARY OUTER VESSEL FOR RECEIVING THE WASHING LIQUID, PIVOTALLY MOUNTED LAUNDRY MOVING MEANS WITHIN SAID VESSEL, THE LAUNDRY MOVING MEANS OF ALL OF THE MACHINES BEING ACTUATED IN UNISION FOR SUBJECTING THE ARTICLES TO AGITATION IN THE WASHING LIQUID IN SAID VESSELS, EACH OF SAID LAUNDRY MOVING MEANS COMPRISING A PADDLING MEMBER EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY FROM ITS PIVOT AXIS AND ACTUATED SO AS TO BE ARRESTED IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION DURING THE TRANSFER PERIOD, AND MOVABLY MOUNTED TRANSFER MEANS ADJACENT THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID VESSELS AND LOCATED BETWEEN ADJACENT MACHINES WHICH ARE ACTUATED IN UNISION DURING THE TRANSFER PERIOD TO LIFT ARTICLES BEING LAUNDERED OUT OF THE MACHINE AND TO TRANSFER THEM TO SERIALLY ADJACENT MACHINES, SAID TRANSFER MEANS BEING LOCATED TO BE LOWERED INTO THE PATH OF THE PADDLING MEANS OF ONE OF SAID TWO ADJACENT MACHINES TO AN ARTICLE RECEIVING POSITION AND AFTER BEING LOADED CAN BE SHIFTED TO TRANSFER THE ARTICLES TO A SUBSEQUENT MACHINE. 